Meditation
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11/23/2014
Meditation
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Meditation
Other common name(s): mindfulness meditation, Transcendental Meditation
Scientific/medical name(s): none
Description
Meditation is a mindbody process that uses concentration or reflection to relax the body and calm the mind. It has
been defined as the intentional selfregulation of attention, a mental focus on a particular aspect of one’s inner or
outer experience.
Overview
Meditation is one of several relaxation methods evaluated and found to be of possible benefit by an independent
panel convened by the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The panel found that it might be a useful complementary
therapy for treating chronic pain and sleeping problems such as insomnia. Some cancer treatment centers offer
meditation or relaxation therapy with standard medical care. Available scientific evidence does not suggest that
meditation is effective in treating cancer or any other disease; however, it may help to improve the quality of life for
http://www.cancer.org/treatment/treatmentsandsideeffects/complementaryandalternativemedicine/mindbodyandspirit/meditation
1/4
11/23/2014
Meditation
people with cancer.
How is it promoted for use?
The NIH National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine reports that regular meditation can reduce
chronic pain, anxiety, high blood pressure, cholesterol, substance abuse, posttraumatic stress disorder in Vietnam
veterans, and blood cortisol levels that are increased by stress (sometimes called “stress hormones”), as well as
reducing the use of health care services.
Practitioners also claim meditation improves mood, immune function, and fertility. Supporters further claim meditation
increases mental efficiency and alertness and raises selfawareness, all of which contribute to relaxation.
What does it involve?
There are different forms of meditation. Meditation may be done while sitting, but there are also moving forms of
meditation, like tai chi, qigong, walking, and the Japanese martial art aikido. One commonly practiced type is
Transcendental Meditation, which involves repeating a word or phrase, called a mantra, either silently or aloud.
Another is mindfulness meditation, in which a person observes sensations, perceptions, and thoughts without
judgment as they arise. There are other types of meditation that focus one’s attention through walking or visualizing.
Meditations that focus on words or images and do not strive for a state of thoughtless awareness are sometimes
called quasimeditative. Meditation can be selfdirected, or guided by doctors, psychiatrists, other mental health
professionals, or yoga masters. It can also be guided by masters from different schools of meditation (for example,
Zen meditation, Tibetan meditation, Transcendental Meditation), as well as those from tai chi and martial arts.
Meditation may be done by choosing a quiet place free from distraction, sitting or resting quietly with eyes closed,
noticing one’s breathing and physical sensations, and letting go of all intruding thoughts. The person may also
achieve a relaxed yet alert state by focusing on a pleasant idea or thought, or by chanting a phrase or special sound
silently or aloud. The ultimate goal of meditation is to separate oneself mentally from the outside world by suspending
the usual stream of consciousness. Some practitioners recommend two sessions of fifteen to twenty minutes a day.
What is the history behind it?
Meditation is an important part of ancient Eastern religious practices, particularly in India, China, and Japan, but can
be found in all cultures of the world. Meditation began to attract attention in the West in the 1960s when the Indian
leader Maharishi Mahesh Yogi brought his method called Transcendental Meditation to the United States. In 1968, a
group of practitioners of this method asked a Harvard cardiologist named Herbert Benson to test them on their ability
to lower their own blood pressures. There was no change in the practitioners’ blood pressure. Benson later developed
a popular relaxation technique called the relaxation response. Interest in the use of meditation in the treatment of
people with cancer began in the 1970s and early 1980s, when Ainslie Meares, MD, an Australian psychiatrist, studied
the use of meditation for enhancing the immune system in order to reduce the size of tumors.
Today, universities and continuing education programs provide training in behavioral medicine, including meditation.
Some clinics at major medical centers and local hospitals offer meditation as a form of behavioral medicine.
What is the evidence?
In the last twenty years, meditation has been studied in clinical trials as a way of reducing stress on both the mind
and body. Research shows that meditation can help reduce anxiety, stress, blood pressure, chronic pain, and
insomnia.
Studies of mindfulness meditation found that it seemed to help with symptoms of anxiety. One controlled study with a
group of healthy workers found more brain activity in an area linked to positive emotional states in those who
meditated. The same study found that those who meditated had a better immune response to the influenza vaccine
than those who did not meditate.
In a controlled study of ninety cancer patients who did mindfulness meditation for 7 weeks, 31% had fewer symptoms
of stress and 65% had fewer episodes of mood disturbance than those who did not meditate. Some studies have also
suggested that more meditation improves the chance of a positive outcome.
Are there any problems or complications?
Most experts agree that the positive effects of meditation outweigh any negative reactions. Complications are rare;
however, a small number of people who meditate have become disoriented or anxious and experienced some
negative feelings. People with certain types of mental illness may be more likely to have these responses. Those
with cancer and chronic conditions such as arthritis and heart disease should talk with their doctors before starting
http://www.cancer.org/treatment/treatmentsandsideeffects/complementaryandalternativemedicine/mindbodyandspirit/meditation
2/4
11/23/2014
Meditation
any type of meditation that involves movement of joints and muscles, such as qigong or martial arts.
Relying on this type of treatment alone and avoiding or delaying conventional medical care for cancer may have
serious health consequences.
Additional resources
More information from your American Cancer Society
The following information on complementary and alternative therapies may also be helpful to you. These materials
may be found on our Web site (www.cancer.org) or ordered from our tollfree number (1800ACS2345).
Dietary Supplements: What Is Safe?
The ACS Operational Statement on Complementary and Alternative Methods of Cancer Management
Complementary and Alternative Methods and Cancer
Placebo Effect
Learning About New Ways to Treat Cancer
Learning About New Ways to Prevent Cancer
References
Astin JA, Shapiro SL, Eisenberg DM, Forys KL. Mindbody medicine: state of the science, implications for practice. J
Am Board Fam Pract. 2003;16:131147.
Benson H, Stark M. Timeless Healing: The Power and Biology of Belief. New York, NY: Scribner; 1996.
Coker KH. Meditation and prostate cancer: integrating a mind/body intervention with traditional therapies. Semin Urol
Oncol. 1999;17:111118.
Davidson RJ, KabatZinn J, Schumacher J, et al. Alterations in brain and immune function produced by mindfulness
meditation. Psychosom Med. 2003;65:564570.
Ernst E, ed. The Desktop Guide to Complementary and Alternative Medicine: An EvidenceBased Approach. New
York: Mosby; 2001.
Massion AO, Teas J, Hebert JR, Wertheimer MD, KabatZinn J. Meditation, melatonin and breast/prostate cancer:
hypothesis and preliminary data. Med Hypotheses. 1995;44:3946.
Meditation. Aetna InteliHealth Web site. Accessed at www.intelihealth.com/IH/ihtIH?d=dmtContent&c=362173& on
May 23, 2008.
Mindbody medicine: an overview. National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine Web site. Accessed
at http://nccam.nih.gov/health/backgrounds/mindbody.htm on June 12, 2008.
National Institutes of Health. Alternative Medicine: Expanding Medical Horizons: A Report to the National Institutes of
Health on Alternative Medical Systems and Practices in the United States. Washington, DC: US Government Printing
Office; 1994. NIH publication 94066.
Smith JE, Richardson J, Hoffman C, Pilkington K. Mindfulnessbased stress reduction as supportive therapy in
cancer care: systematic review. J Adv Nurs. 2005;52:315327.
Speca M, Carlson LE, Goodey E, Angen M. A randomized, waitlist controlled clinical trial: the effect of a mindfulness
meditationbased stress reduction program on mood and symptoms of stress in cancer outpatients. Psychosom Med.
2000;62:613622.
Spencer JW, Jacobs JJ. Complementary/Alternative Medicine: An EvidenceBased Approach. St. Louis, MO:
Mosby;1999.
http://www.cancer.org/treatment/treatmentsandsideeffects/complementaryandalternativemedicine/mindbodyandspirit/meditation
3/4
11/23/2014
Meditation
US Congress, Office of Technology Assessment. Unconventional Cancer Treatments: OTAH405. Washington, DC:
US Government Printing Office; 1990.
Wallace RK, Benson H, Wilson AF. A wakeful hypometabolic physiologic state. Am J Physiol. 1971;221:795799.
Note: This information may not cover all possible claims, uses, actions, precautions, side effects or interactions. It is
not intended as medical advice, and should not be relied upon as a substitute for consultation with your doctor, who is
familiar with your medical situation.
Last Medical Review: 11/01/2008
Last Revised: 11/01/2008
Find Support & Treatment
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© 2014 American Cancer Society, Inc. All rights
reserved. The American Cancer Society is a qualified
501(c)(3) taxexempt organization. Cancer.org is
provided courtesy of the Leo and Gloria Rosen family.
http://www.cancer.org/treatment/treatmentsandsideeffects/complementaryandalternativemedicine/mindbodyandspirit/meditation
4/4
Meditation
Sign In Register
How can we help you?
Home
Learn About Cancer
Sign Up for Email
search cancer.org
Stay Healthy
Find Support & Treatment
Español Asian & Pacific Languages
SEARCH
Live Chat
Explore Research
Get Involved
Find Support & Treatment » Treatments and Side Effects » Complementary and Alternative Medicine » Mind, Body, and Spirit »
8002272345
Find Local ACS
SHARE
SAVE
Meditation
Your Local Offices
Close
+
Text Size
Meditation
Other common name(s): mindfulness meditation, Transcendental Meditation
Scientific/medical name(s): none
Description
Meditation is a mindbody process that uses concentration or reflection to relax the body and calm the mind. It has
been defined as the intentional selfregulation of attention, a mental focus on a particular aspect of one’s inner or
outer experience.
Overview
Meditation is one of several relaxation methods evaluated and found to be of possible benefit by an independent
panel convened by the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The panel found that it might be a useful complementary
therapy for treating chronic pain and sleeping problems such as insomnia. Some cancer treatment centers offer
meditation or relaxation therapy with standard medical care. Available scientific evidence does not suggest that
meditation is effective in treating cancer or any other disease; however, it may help to improve the quality of life for
http://www.cancer.org/treatment/treatmentsandsideeffects/complementaryandalternativemedicine/mindbodyandspirit/meditation
1/4
11/23/2014
Meditation
people with cancer.
How is it promoted for use?
The NIH National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine reports that regular meditation can reduce
chronic pain, anxiety, high blood pressure, cholesterol, substance abuse, posttraumatic stress disorder in Vietnam
veterans, and blood cortisol levels that are increased by stress (sometimes called “stress hormones”), as well as
reducing the use of health care services.
Practitioners also claim meditation improves mood, immune function, and fertility. Supporters further claim meditation
increases mental efficiency and alertness and raises selfawareness, all of which contribute to relaxation.
What does it involve?
There are different forms of meditation. Meditation may be done while sitting, but there are also moving forms of
meditation, like tai chi, qigong, walking, and the Japanese martial art aikido. One commonly practiced type is
Transcendental Meditation, which involves repeating a word or phrase, called a mantra, either silently or aloud.
Another is mindfulness meditation, in which a person observes sensations, perceptions, and thoughts without
judgment as they arise. There are other types of meditation that focus one’s attention through walking or visualizing.
Meditations that focus on words or images and do not strive for a state of thoughtless awareness are sometimes
called quasimeditative. Meditation can be selfdirected, or guided by doctors, psychiatrists, other mental health
professionals, or yoga masters. It can also be guided by masters from different schools of meditation (for example,
Zen meditation, Tibetan meditation, Transcendental Meditation), as well as those from tai chi and martial arts.
Meditation may be done by choosing a quiet place free from distraction, sitting or resting quietly with eyes closed,
noticing one’s breathing and physical sensations, and letting go of all intruding thoughts. The person may also
achieve a relaxed yet alert state by focusing on a pleasant idea or thought, or by chanting a phrase or special sound
silently or aloud. The ultimate goal of meditation is to separate oneself mentally from the outside world by suspending
the usual stream of consciousness. Some practitioners recommend two sessions of fifteen to twenty minutes a day.
What is the history behind it?
Meditation is an important part of ancient Eastern religious practices, particularly in India, China, and Japan, but can
be found in all cultures of the world. Meditation began to attract attention in the West in the 1960s when the Indian
leader Maharishi Mahesh Yogi brought his method called Transcendental Meditation to the United States. In 1968, a
group of practitioners of this method asked a Harvard cardiologist named Herbert Benson to test them on their ability
to lower their own blood pressures. There was no change in the practitioners’ blood pressure. Benson later developed
a popular relaxation technique called the relaxation response. Interest in the use of meditation in the treatment of
people with cancer began in the 1970s and early 1980s, when Ainslie Meares, MD, an Australian psychiatrist, studied
the use of meditation for enhancing the immune system in order to reduce the size of tumors.
Today, universities and continuing education programs provide training in behavioral medicine, including meditation.
Some clinics at major medical centers and local hospitals offer meditation as a form of behavioral medicine.
What is the evidence?
In the last twenty years, meditation has been studied in clinical trials as a way of reducing stress on both the mind
and body. Research shows that meditation can help reduce anxiety, stress, blood pressure, chronic pain, and
insomnia.
Studies of mindfulness meditation found that it seemed to help with symptoms of anxiety. One controlled study with a
group of healthy workers found more brain activity in an area linked to positive emotional states in those who
meditated. The same study found that those who meditated had a better immune response to the influenza vaccine
than those who did not meditate.
In a controlled study of ninety cancer patients who did mindfulness meditation for 7 weeks, 31% had fewer symptoms
of stress and 65% had fewer episodes of mood disturbance than those who did not meditate. Some studies have also
suggested that more meditation improves the chance of a positive outcome.
Are there any problems or complications?
Most experts agree that the positive effects of meditation outweigh any negative reactions. Complications are rare;
however, a small number of people who meditate have become disoriented or anxious and experienced some
negative feelings. People with certain types of mental illness may be more likely to have these responses. Those
with cancer and chronic conditions such as arthritis and heart disease should talk with their doctors before starting
http://www.cancer.org/treatment/treatmentsandsideeffects/complementaryandalternativemedicine/mindbodyandspirit/meditation
2/4
11/23/2014
Meditation
any type of meditation that involves movement of joints and muscles, such as qigong or martial arts.
Relying on this type of treatment alone and avoiding or delaying conventional medical care for cancer may have
serious health consequences.
Additional resources
More information from your American Cancer Society
The following information on complementary and alternative therapies may also be helpful to you. These materials
may be found on our Web site (www.cancer.org) or ordered from our tollfree number (1800ACS2345).
Dietary Supplements: What Is Safe?
The ACS Operational Statement on Complementary and Alternative Methods of Cancer Management
Complementary and Alternative Methods and Cancer
Placebo Effect
Learning About New Ways to Treat Cancer
Learning About New Ways to Prevent Cancer
References
Astin JA, Shapiro SL, Eisenberg DM, Forys KL. Mindbody medicine: state of the science, implications for practice. J
Am Board Fam Pract. 2003;16:131147.
Benson H, Stark M. Timeless Healing: The Power and Biology of Belief. New York, NY: Scribner; 1996.
Coker KH. Meditation and prostate cancer: integrating a mind/body intervention with traditional therapies. Semin Urol
Oncol. 1999;17:111118.
Davidson RJ, KabatZinn J, Schumacher J, et al. Alterations in brain and immune function produced by mindfulness
meditation. Psychosom Med. 2003;65:564570.
Ernst E, ed. The Desktop Guide to Complementary and Alternative Medicine: An EvidenceBased Approach. New
York: Mosby; 2001.
Massion AO, Teas J, Hebert JR, Wertheimer MD, KabatZinn J. Meditation, melatonin and breast/prostate cancer:
hypothesis and preliminary data. Med Hypotheses. 1995;44:3946.
Meditation. Aetna InteliHealth Web site. Accessed at www.intelihealth.com/IH/ihtIH?d=dmtContent&c=362173& on
May 23, 2008.
Mindbody medicine: an overview. National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine Web site. Accessed
at http://nccam.nih.gov/health/backgrounds/mindbody.htm on June 12, 2008.
National Institutes of Health. Alternative Medicine: Expanding Medical Horizons: A Report to the National Institutes of
Health on Alternative Medical Systems and Practices in the United States. Washington, DC: US Government Printing
Office; 1994. NIH publication 94066.
Smith JE, Richardson J, Hoffman C, Pilkington K. Mindfulnessbased stress reduction as supportive therapy in
cancer care: systematic review. J Adv Nurs. 2005;52:315327.
Speca M, Carlson LE, Goodey E, Angen M. A randomized, waitlist controlled clinical trial: the effect of a mindfulness
meditationbased stress reduction program on mood and symptoms of stress in cancer outpatients. Psychosom Med.
2000;62:613622.
Spencer JW, Jacobs JJ. Complementary/Alternative Medicine: An EvidenceBased Approach. St. Louis, MO:
Mosby;1999.
http://www.cancer.org/treatment/treatmentsandsideeffects/complementaryandalternativemedicine/mindbodyandspirit/meditation
3/4
11/23/2014
Meditation
US Congress, Office of Technology Assessment. Unconventional Cancer Treatments: OTAH405. Washington, DC:
US Government Printing Office; 1990.
Wallace RK, Benson H, Wilson AF. A wakeful hypometabolic physiologic state. Am J Physiol. 1971;221:795799.
Note: This information may not cover all possible claims, uses, actions, precautions, side effects or interactions. It is
not intended as medical advice, and should not be relied upon as a substitute for consultation with your doctor, who is
familiar with your medical situation.
Last Medical Review: 11/01/2008
Last Revised: 11/01/2008
Find Support & Treatment
Topics
Understanding Your Diagnosis
Finding and Paying for Treatment
Treatments and Side Effects
Survivorship: During and After
Treatment
Children and Cancer
Caregivers and Family
Nearing the End of Life
Find Support Programs and
Services in Your Area
CANCER INFORMATION
PROGRAMS & SERVICES
ACS EVENTS
ABOUT ACS
MORE ACS SITES
Cancer Basics
Breast Cancer Support
Making Strides Against Breast
Cancer Walks
About Us
Bookstore
Cancer Prevention & Detection
TLC Hair Loss & Mastectomy
Contact Us
ACS CAN
Local Offices
Gift Shop
Volunteer
Global Health
Employment
Finish the Fight
Become a Supplier
Press Room
Report Fraud or Abuse
Mobile Site
Products
Coaches vs. Cancer
Hope Lodge® Lodging
Relay For Life Events
Rides To Treatment
College Relay For Life
Online Support Communities
Relay Recess
WhatNext
Donate a Car
Signs & Symptoms of Cancer
Treatments & Side Effects
Cancer Facts & Statistics
News About Cancer
Expert Voices Blog
Help
Site Map
Privacy
Better Business Bureau
Accessibility
Health On The Net
Terms of Use
State Fundraising Notices
National Health Council
Site Comments
© 2014 American Cancer Society, Inc. All rights
reserved. The American Cancer Society is a qualified
501(c)(3) taxexempt organization. Cancer.org is
provided courtesy of the Leo and Gloria Rosen family.
http://www.cancer.org/treatment/treatmentsandsideeffects/complementaryandalternativemedicine/mindbodyandspirit/meditation
4/4
